New Jersey cop indicted for assault of mentally handicapped man

(RAW STORY) A police officer in Passaic County, New Jersey is facing assault and misconduct charges after he was captured on camera beating a schizophrenic man with his fists and baton, even as the man did not appear to be resisting.

“Joseph Rios III, a seven-year veteran of the Passaic police force, was captured on surveillance tape last May throwing 49-year-old Ronnie Holloway to the ground, striking him several times on the back and at one point even hitting Holloway in the ribs with his baton,” reported New Jersey’s WPIX 11.

Holloway has maintained he did nothing to provoke the attack and was merely out for his daily walk. According to WPIX, he is charged with “resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and wandering with the intent to purchase drugs.”